American academic calls for flood of refugees to be sent to Siberia

The academic says that Russia should solve the problem now causing a huge political and economic strain to the EU countries. 'The refugees will not stop their attempt to enter Europe. Syrians, for example, suffer death and the destruction of their homes and enterprises. Many have gone to Jordan and Turkey, but those places resist further inflows,' he wrote on forum Progress.org.

'One solution would be to offer a location that has a large area and a small population, so that population growth would be regarded as an asset rather than a liability. The prime location with these features is Siberia and the Russian Far East.'

He stated: 'Siberia has a huge area, and a population of 40 million, a bit over a quarter of Russia's population. Siberia and the Far East came under Russian rule during the 1600s.'

'During the Soviet era, millions of people were deported to Siberia, including those in labour camps. Most of the people living in Siberia are now Russian and various nationalities that became Russified.

'One reason why Siberia has had a low population density is its climate, the long cold winters. The region also gets relatively little rain. On the plus side, Siberia has minerals, oil, and forests.'

The Russian government is seeking to boost economic growth across Siberia and the Far East, he said. 'Russian government officials welcome investment from Asia, but fear that development may induce high immigration from China and other Asian countries.' he wrote.

'The new enterprises will need labour, and one solution is to welcome the refugees from the Middle East as well as migrants who seek better economic opportunities. If the immigrants agree to learn Russian and become good Russian citizens, then the inflow of people into Siberia and the Far East would be a double win. Europe would have less immigration pressure, and Russia would obtain labour and population for its sparsely settled areas.'

He added: 'With a free-market policy, the Russian Far East would thrive as investment is complemented with increases in immigrant labour. A safe passage to Russia would change the flow of the migrants away from Greece and Italy and into Turkey and from there into Russia, with the cooperation of transit countries such as Georgia.'

He claimed that Russia and Europe 'could have a mutual benefit in settling refugees in Siberia and the Far East. 

'The situation is complicated by the economic controls related to Ukraine, but perhaps a general relaxation of the economic restrictions is warranted now, as we need to seek least bad solutions in a world gone mad.'

Foldvary teaches at San Jose State University.